QUESTION PERIOD — National Defence
Retention and Recruitment of Members
October 6, 2022
Government leader, our men and women in uniform have always stood tall when our country needed it. Whether it was advancing under the barrage of artillery fire to take Vimy Ridge, landing on the beaches of France under the hail of gunfire or standing their ground while surrounded on the hills of Korea, our soldiers have always done what was expected of them, and we will be forever grateful.
However, according to an article in today’s issue of the Toronto Star, the military faces lagging recruitment and a shortage of experienced personnel. The Chief of the Defence Staff, General Eyre, has stated that these problems are so acute that they:
. . . imperil our ability to recruit, train, employ and retain diverse Canadian talent, thus jeopardizing the readiness and long-term health of Canada’s defence capabilities.
Senator Gold, what specifically is the government doing to address this problem of lagging recruitment and the retention of experienced personnel?
Thank you for your question. It is an important one. Indeed, our Armed Forces are an important institution upon which we all rely.
The government knows that our success as a country — in defending ourselves and our interests — comes down to having a military with the right numbers, the right training and the right resources to sustain our regular operations and to step up during times of crisis. That is why the government is looking at both short-term and long-term ways to increase recruitment.
To answer your question, in the short term, the government has been maximizing staffing of recruitment centres and training schools, as well as temporarily shortening basic training. In the longer term, the government is continuing to work on building an institution where everyone feels safe, protected and respected in order to reach their full potential.
In this regard, the work that has been done — to expose and address the military’s problems and toxic culture — is of fundamental importance in making the Canadian Armed Forces an attractive option for all Canadians.
I have also been advised and assured that recruitment to our Armed Forces is a priority for Minister Anand — as it is, of course, a priority for the Canadian Armed Forces.
Government leader, to quote military doctrine:
The ultimate role of the armed forces is to apply force, or the threat of force, in the furtherance of the interests of the state. . . .
To achieve that goal and follow in the footsteps of the heroes in uniform who came before them, key trades in the Armed Forces need to be filled with exceptional personnel. They need to have the capacity to fight and to respond to emergencies if our nation calls upon them to do so.
Senator Gold, you did list some of the efforts that are being made, but would you commit to informing the Senate about the government’s exact plan to recruit and retain the personnel required to defend our country and respond to national emergencies?
Of course, as more information becomes available, I will certainly share it with this chamber, either proactively or in response to questions.
I would also encourage us in this chamber to perhaps take advantage of ministerial Question Period and invite Minister Anand, at the appropriate time — and our office would be happy to facilitate this — so that you can ask her questions directly. That said, I will make my own inquiries.
